"Singing in the Lichen" Swainson's Thrush Perched Amid the Lichen at Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park BC 28Jun2012
This scene is as much about the lichen as it is the singing Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus). The finely-branched, long and dangly lichen partially covering the bird is common witch's hair (Alectoria sarmentosa). The ruffly stuff accompanying the witch's hair on the western redcedar (Thuja plicata) branches, and actually acting as a support for the lightweight bird, is waxpaper lichen (Parmelia sulcata). The combination of tree limbs, lichen and bird makes for a beautiful scene that offers a broader description of life in the coastal forests of BC than a basic shot of an avian with much of the surroundings lost due to a narrow depth-of-field.
Indeed, the latter is more an illustration than a work of fine art. Illustrations have their uses, can be quite beautiful and are very important (such as in field guides). I am an illustrator myself and do not mean to denigrate the field. A wildlife scene with other elements outside the bird and the twig it has perched on approaches my idea of what fine art is all about: Dealing with an often challenging array of compositional elements and trying to find an arrangement that works within one's own artistic sensibilities.
This Swainson's Thrush does not exist in isolation. Rather the bird's existence is supported by the presence of a complex and interesting environment that includes lichen, herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, insects and other animals. Without these things, the thrush would likely not be. And, to me, some of the most interesting wildlife shots include details about the environment in which the animal lives. It can be good to pull back on the zoom ring (if you are not using a prime) and capture more than just the object that is the most interesting at a given moment.
"Singing in the Lichen" Swainson's Thrush Perched Amid the Lichen at Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park BC 28Jun2012
This scene is as much about the lichen as it is the singing Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus). The finely-branched, long and dangly lichen partially covering the bird is common witch's hair (Alectoria sarmentosa). The ruffly stuff accompanying the witch's hair on the western redcedar (Thuja plicata) branches, and actually acting as a support for the lightweight bird, is waxpaper lichen (Parmelia sulcata). The combination of tree limbs, lichen and bird makes for a beautiful scene that offers a broader description of life in the coastal forests of BC than a basic shot of an avian with much of the surroundings lost due to a narrow depth-of-field.
Indeed, the latter is more an illustration than a work of fine art. Illustrations have their uses, can be quite beautiful and are very important (such as in field guides). I am an illustrator myself and do not mean to denigrate the field. A wildlife scene with other elements outside the bird and the twig it has perched on approaches my idea of what fine art is all about: Dealing with an often challenging array of compositional elements and trying to find an arrangement that works within one's own artistic sensibilities.
This Swainson's Thrush does not exist in isolation. Rather the bird's existence is supported by the presence of a complex and interesting environment that includes lichen, herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, insects and other animals. Without these things, the thrush would likely not be. And, to me, some of the most interesting wildlife shots include details about the environment in which the animal lives. It can be good to pull back on the zoom ring (if you are not using a prime) and capture more than just the object that is the most interesting at a given moment.